Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Superconducting graphene created at UBC

Physicists have created the first ever superconducting graphene sample by coating it with lithium atoms, an advance that may lead to the development of graphene electronics and nanoscale quantum devices. Single-layer, superconducting graphene has until now eluded scientists.

Graphene, roughly 200 times stronger than steel by weight, is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
Along with studying its extreme physical properties, scientists eventually hope to make very fast transistors, semiconductors, sensors and transparent electrodes using graphene.

The research team prepared the lithium coated graphene in ultra-high vacuum conditions and at ultra-low temperatures.